"I could have used some of that, soldier"
A cartoon soldier in a garrison cap waves away a plate of food, while a faint painted figure of a helmeted combat soldier stands over him and the headline puts the words in the combat soldier's mouth. The sheet pairs a guilt-based appeal against plate waste with the image of the fighting man, and a yellow seal reads 'Food is ammunition'.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. government (food conservation campaign)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. government. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1031 (NAID 514557).
Text on the object
"I COULD HAVE USED SOME OF THAT, SOLDIER" FOOD IS AMMUNITION * DON'T WASTE IT * [imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943—O—534432
